The advanced class of Futian Criminal Defense Lawyer Leading Talent Training Project entered Zhiheng Law Firm and the "Seminar on Property Defense Involved in Criminal Cases" was successfully held
On the morning of March 13, 2025, the Advanced Training Program for Leading Criminal Defense Lawyers in Futian District was held at
, and the “Seminar on the Defense of Assets Involved in Mafia‑Related Cases” took place successfully in the main conference room of Zhiheng’s headquarters. More than ten members of the Shenzhen Lawyers Association’s Specialized Committee on Criminal-Civil Intersections (hereinafter referred to as the “Shenzhen Lawyers Association’s Criminal-Civil Intersections Committee”), including Senior Advisor Dong Yuqin, Vice Director Zeng Lidan, Deputy Secretary-General Lin Jianni, and committee members Zhang Di and Tang Weiwei, as well as administrative staff Wang Menglei and Wang Zhichao, attended this seminar. Additionally, members of the Advanced Class of the Futian Leading Talent Cultivation Program for Criminal Defense Lawyers, along with Zhang Nannan, a member of the Zhiheng Management Committee and Director of the Criminal Law Center, Lu Rui, Deputy Director of the Zhiheng Litigation Legal Affairs Department, and several other Zhiheng attorneys, also participated in the event.
Attorney Guo Liang, Senior Partner of Zhiheng Equity, Deputy Director of the Zhiheng Criminal Law Center, and Member of the Municipal Lawyers Association’s Committee on the Intersection of Criminal and Civil Law, delivered a presentation on the topic of “Defense Strategies for Assets Involved in Organized Crime Cases.”
Guest Address
Zhang Nannan, Member of the Zhicheng Headquarters Management Committee and Director of the Criminal Law Center
Director Zhang Nannan first extended a warm welcome to all the participants from the Shenzhen Lawyers Association’s Special Committee on Criminal-Civil Intersections and the criminal defense training class who had come to Zhiheng, expressing great admiration for theTrainees’ diligent and persistent spirit of learning. The Municipal Lawyers Association’s Criminal-Civil Interdisciplinary Committee has chosen Zhiheng as the venue for its case study seminar, which is a testament to their trust and recognition of our firm. We would like to express our gratitude for this.
Subsequently, Director Zhang Nannan pointed out that the defense of assets involved in organized crime cases not only presents significant practical challenges but also constitutes an important topic that urgently requires in-depth study in the current socio-economic environment. She expressed the hope that all participants would gain valuable insights from today’s seminar and wished the event every success.
Case Study on the Defense of Assets Involved in Organized Crime Cases
Guo Liang, Member of the Criminal-Civil Intersections Committee of the Municipal Lawyers Association, Deputy Director of the Zhiheng Criminal Law Center, and Director of the Cybercrime Defense Department
Due to their serious nature and the complexity of the facts involved, organized crime cases have long been a challenging area in criminal defense. Drawing on his profound legal expertise and extensive practical experience, Attorney Guo Liang meticulously analyzed, through real-life cases, the defense strategies and key considerations at each stage of a criminal case—investigation, prosecution review, and trial—vividly demonstrating how to secure the maximum possible rights and interests for his clients amidst numerous challenges.
Investigation Stage: Provide the client with timely legal advice to help them properly exercise their rights and avoid being placed in a disadvantaged position due to unfamiliarity with legal procedures. During the review and prosecution stage: Through candid and professional communication with the prosecutor, we ultimately secured the removal of the charge of being a key figure in a triad‑like organization for our client. During the plea-bargaining process with the prosecutor, Attorney Guo Liang conducted in-depth analyses of the circumstances and societal harm associated with the charges of participating in a triad‑like organization, running a casino, and engaging in illegal business operations, as well as the client’s specific role in the case and his attitude toward admitting guilt, and engaged in multiple rounds of communication and negotiation with the prosecutor.
Ultimately, the sentencing was successfully finalized at three years and two months, securing a relatively favorable outcome for the client. At the trial stage, Attorney Guo Liang focused on meticulously examining and leveraging the case’s details, identifying that the defendant in the illegal business operations case had voluntarily surrendered. He successfully persuaded the judge to adopt this defense argument.
In the area of property defense, by conducting a thorough investigation and analysis of the source, nature, and connection of the assets involved in the case to the criminal conduct, we successfully secured the client’s vehicle and two properties, thereby maximizing the protection of the client’s legitimate rights and interests.
Case Study Discussion and Exchange
Wang Minglei, Executive Member of the Criminal-Civil Interdisciplinary Committee of the Municipal Lawyers Association
Attorney Wang Minglei argues that, in criminal cases involving property, judicial authorities must strike a balance between the property rights of bona fide purchasers and those of the victims. The interests of bona fide purchasers should be prioritized, as protecting them safeguards transactional security throughout society. If a bona fide purchaser was unaware that the suspect was engaged in criminal activity and acquired the property through a legitimate transaction, such property should be protected. With respect to property seized or impounded by investigative and judicial authorities in criminal proceedings, if the court does not order the confiscation of the seized or impounded property as proceeds of crime, it shall be presumed to be lawful and must be returned; moreover, the authorities responsible for the unlawful seizure or impoundment should be held liable for any property losses incurred by the parties. State compensation may serve as a necessary remedy in the handling of criminally‑related property; parties may file a claim for state compensation against the agency that carried out the unlawful seizure or impoundment.
In state compensation cases, although the compensating authority typically does not cover most losses, state compensation nonetheless serves as a strategic tool for parties to negotiate and communicate with the judicial authorities regarding their property losses.
Dong Yuqin, Member of the Criminal-Civil Interdisciplinary Committee of the Municipal Lawyers Association
During the case study session, Attorney Dong Yuqin stated that Attorney Guo Liang’s case presentation provided us with valuable insights and lessons. When confronting complex and challenging organized-crime cases, only by upholding professional integrity, paying meticulous attention to detail, and fully leveraging one’s comprehensive capabilities can we, within the bounds of the law, secure the maximum possible rights and interests for our clients, ensuring that the scales of justice tip more fairly in favor of righteousness.
Attorney Dong Yuqin also shared several case-handling experiences, including securing an acquittal in a drug case in Foshan, which subsequently involved state compensation proceedings; in a mafia-related case, she worked diligently at every stage from investigation to trial, successfully having some charges and factual allegations dismissed; and in a fraud case in Shenzhen, she defended the alleged ringleader, addressing issues related to the assets involved. Dong Yuqin also discussed the challenges in drafting criminal property defense contracts, emphasizing the importance of lawyers’ communication skills—both in building rapport with clients and their families and in advocating for clients’ rights during interactions with judicial authorities.
Attendees
During the case study and discussion session, participants actively spoke up, sharing the challenges they encountered in organized crime cases as well as the solutions they implemented, and exchanging views and insights.
Closing Remarks
Zeng Lidan, Deputy Director of the Criminal-Civil Intersections Committee of the Municipal Lawyers Association
Deputy Director Zeng Lidan concluded that this event not only showcased the dedicated professionalism and positive spirit of Shenzhen’s criminal defense lawyers, but also provided a platform for learning and exchange, offering practical guidance and inspiration for attorneys handling similar cases in the future. Thank you all for your active participation, and thank you as well to
for its strong support. We are confident that, with our collective efforts, the case study seminars will continue to improve and contribute to the advancement and development of the legal profession.
At the symposium venue
Group photo
The successful convening of the advanced class of the Futian Criminal Defense Lawyers Leadership Development Program at
, along with the “Seminar on the Defense of Assets Involved in Mafia‑Related Cases,” has significantly enhanced participants’ understanding and awareness of asset defense in such cases, strengthened solidarity among legal professionals, and laid a solid foundation for collaborative cooperation and mutual progress.
Zhiheng will also uphold the philosophy of “unity of knowledge and action, perseverance to achieve long-term success,” helping to cultivate outstanding legal professionals and contributing to the building of a society governed by the rule of law.
Introduction to the Advanced Program for Cultivating Leading Criminal Defense Lawyers in Futian
The Advanced Leadership Program for Criminal Defense Lawyers in Futian District, Shenzhen, is a study group that has been further developed under the guidance of the Futian District Justice Bureau of Shenzhen, building upon the foundational and intermediate-level programs. This advanced class focuses primarily on research projects, and its participants are mainly the fellows of the 2024 Futian Leading Talents Program for Criminal Defense Lawyers. We warmly welcome the members, staff, and volunteers of our Criminal-Civil Law Committee to actively support and participate.
This advanced course adheres to a “flexible admission, rigorous graduation” policy, and is open to all who meet the eligibility criteria. The advanced class is divided into 10 thematic study groups, and participants may freely choose a group based on their interests and areas of expertise. Those who have received full approval from the group members and have consistently demonstrated dedication will become researchers in the project team and participate in the editorial work for the publication of the project’s findings.